Signal



F. H. THONE.

SIGNAL.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 3. 1919.

1,346,994, Patented July 20, 1920.

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Application filed March 3, 1919.

make and use'the same.'

The present invention relates to signal devices, and aims to provide anovel and improved semaphore or signal device for use on automobiles andother vehicles, and operable for signaling the intentions of theoperator to turn, stop or back up, thus facilitating traffic andavoiding collisions and accidents.

It is the object of the invention to provide such a device comprising anovel assemblage of elements including a signal arm and novel means foroperating it under the control of an operator.

With the foregoing and other objects in View which will be apparent asthe description proceeds, the invention resides in the construction andarrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed, it beingunderstood that changes can be made within thescope of what is claimedwithout departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, whereinFigure 1 is a side elevation of the signal showing the signal arm independing position and latched.

Fig. 2 is a view, partly in elevation and partly in median section,showing the device with the arm raised to signaling position.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatical view of the electrical wiring.

In carrying out the invention there is provided a small casing 1attached to the outer end of a rod or shank 2 which is adjustably heldby a clamp or supporting member 3 which can be attached to the windshield or other support of an automobile or other vehicle, so that thesignal device projects to'one side thereof. The clamp 3 has a sleeve 4through which the rod 2 extends and in which it can be slid and rotatedto adjust the signal device to the desired position, said rod being'heldwithin the sleeve 4 by means of a set screw or other well Specificationof Letters Serial 33o. 2%,?391.

known securing element. A lever 5 extends through an opening 6 in theouter portion of the casing 1 and is of hollow form, said lever havingits arms arranged at an obtuse angle, and being fulcrumed on a rivet orpin 7 extending through the casing 1 within the opening 6. The outer armof the lever 5 terminates in an electric lamp socket 8 for the receptionof an electric bulb or lamp 9 that can be used during the night time forilluminating the signal arm. Said signal arm 10 is hollow, beingconstructed of sheet metal or other suitable material, and beingpreferably in the ,form of a hand, as shown in the drawings, withperforations or apertures scattered throughout through which the lightfrom the lamp shines, so that this hand can be seen in the dark. Theinner end of the arm 10 is contracted as at 11, and secured on the lever5 near the inner end of its socket 8, so that said socket projects intothe arm.

In the preferred form, electrical means is used for operating the signalarm, and for this purpose the casing 1 has a depending sleeve 12provided near its upper end with a collar 13 and at its lower end with acollar 14, to retain between them a solenoid coil or winding 15 wrappedaround the sleeve 12. A core 16 is slidable vertically in the upperportion of the sleeve 12 and its upper end is connected,-such as by apin'and slot connection 1! or the like, with the inner arm or end of thelever 5, this core 16 bein or" magnetic material so as to be attracteddownwardly in the sleeve 12 when the solenoid is energized. This willraise the signal arm 10 as seen in Fig. 2, andwhen the sole noio isdeenergized, said signal arm will swing downwardly by gravity to theposition shown in Fig. 1, thereby raising the core 16 partly out of thesolenoid. The electrical circuit includes the conductors 18 which areconnected to the lamp 9 and coil 15 in multiple as seen in Fig. 8, sothat when the circuit is closed through the means of a suitable switch,the lamp is lighted to illuminate the signal arm, and, at the same time,the solenoid is energized to raise said arm to signaling position. Whenthe circuit is opened, the lamp is extinguished and the signal arm dropsdown out of the way. The conductors 18, as seen in Fig. 2, are ledbetween the flange 13 and lower portion of the casing 1 for connectionwith the coil 15, and

the conductors extend upwardly through the bottom of the casing 1 andthence into disposed at the lower end of the sleeve 12 diametricallythereof, and a short core 20 is slidable within the lower end of thesleeve 20 and has its lower end bifurcated, and connected, such as by apin and slot connection 21 or the like, with .the latch 19, one end ofsaid latch being ivoted as at 22, to the flange 14 so that sai latch canswing up and down as the core 20 slides vertically in the sleeve 12. Thefree end of the latch 19 which projects toward the signal arm when saidsignal arm is in de pending position, is provided with a cam hook 23,and the signal arm 10 has a keeper 24 to engage the hook 23, as seen inFig. 1. Thus, when the solenoid is denergized, the core 20 willgravitate, thus permitting the latch 19 to swing downwardly, and whenthe signal armswings downwardly, the keeper 24 thereof will snap intoengagement with the hook 23, thus holding the signal arm in place. Thedownward movement thereof will. be limited by a stop screw 25 threadedthrough the upper portion of the casing 1 and against which the innerarm of the lever 5 contracts when the signal arm is swung downwardly.The stop screw 25 thus limits the swinging movement of the signal armtoward the solenoid, and the latch 19 prevents the signal arm fromswinging away from said solenoid, but when the solenoid is energized forraising the signal arm, this will raise thecore 20 and disengage thelatch 19 from the keeper 24, permitting the core 16 to move downwardlyand raise the signal arm. The cores 16 and 20 preferably tele- Scopetogether when they move downwardly and upwardly, respectively, the

core 20 being shown as cupped, and the lower end of the core 16 taperedto enter the core 20, it being noted that the attraction of the cores 16and 20 toward one another will assist in releasing the signal arm andraising it.

In operation, it is only necessary for the operator to close theelectrical circuit by means of a push button or switch, which willrelease the signal arm, light the lamp and then swing the signal arm toraised signaling position, thereby indicating the intentions of theoperator-to turn or stop, in order that other vehicles following in rearmay be warned. -When the circuit is opened, the lamp is extinguished,the signal arm dropped back to depending position and then latched.

Having thus described the what is claimed as new is A signal deviceembodying a casing having a sleeve depending therefrom, a lever pivotedwithin the casing and having a signal arm, said signal arm being adaptedto swing downwardly adjacent to said sleeve and having a keeper toproject under the lower end of the sleeve when the signal arm isadjacent to said sleeve, a solenoid coil on the sleeve, a tubular casingsurrounding said coil and sleeve, a latch pivoted to and extendingacross the lower end of said sleeve within the tubular casing and havinga portion to move downwardly and drop into engagement with said keeper,and a pair of cores slidable within the opposite ends of said sleeve,the upper core being connected to said lever, and the lower coreengaging said latch so that when the cores move toward one another inthe sleeve they will raise and withdraw the latch from said keeper andswing the lever to raise the signal arm away from said sleeve.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANK HENRY THONE. Witnesses:

RUTH BROWN, KEITH R. JENSEN.

invention,

